Gulf Business Talks: How can the GCC’s hospitality sector emerge from the Covid-19 crisis?

The hospitality sector has been one of the worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the region.

Lockdowns across the world caused tourist numbers to plummet, and many hotels were forced to temporarily close their doors.

As economies gradually reopen, what steps can hoteliers take to ensure their businesses stay relevant?

According to Kevork Deldelian, CEO of Millennium Hotels and Resorts Middle East and Africa, it is time for a complete overhaul of the system. Hotels need to operate more efficiently and avoid imposing rigid job roles for their staff, he stresses.

Looking ahead, will technology be a major driver? David Allan, cluster general manager at Radisson Hotels Group, believes that robot assistants are gimmicks, with hospitality set to remain a people-centric business.

In this very first edition of Gulf Business Talks – a series of video and audio discussions on topics relevant to the region – we deep-dive into the regional hospitality sector, how it is handling the crisis, importance of marketing, addressing guest needs and what the future holds.

The panel of industry experts includes:

• Kevork Deldelian, CEO, Millennium Hotels and Resorts Middle East and Africa
• David Allan, cluster general manager, Radisson Hotels Group
• Cyrus Heydarian, general manager, Breidenbacher Hof Hotel in Doosseldorf
• Bruno Trenchard, senior manager, Strategic Advisory – Hotels and Hospitality, CBRE
• Jacqueline Campbell, managing director, The Travel Collection
• Michael Lee, client relationship director, MavenMagnet